a woman who started life in the humblest circumstances, then went on to become a successful educator. she is now back among the folks she grew up with. giving them a chance to connect with a wider world and making a difference along the way. nbc's kerry sanders has her story. >> that's good. >> reporter: estellea piefrom knows hard work. >> i was about 6. >> reporter: the daughter of migrant farm workers, she traveled the harvest from florida to upstate, new york. invisible, she says, until a family wanted to use a rest room or eat. >> very, very few times we were allowed to even go inside of a restaurant and buy takeout food, because we were black. >> reporter: that didn't make her bitter. rather, determined. your dad finished what grade? >> about third grade. >> reporter: and your mom? >> fourth. >> reporter: and you? >> i went to college, got a master's degree. >> reporter: a degree, a 50-year career as a teacher and now at 76 years old, on her brilliant bus. >> doing a great job. >> reporter: her personal crusade to make sure those who are invisible, just like she was, are not. wi